You Don't See Them Brawl

[Merlin401]

Finally a good day yesterday... besides the 5 minute rule, I could be happy with an NHL like that. The fights weren't just random goon-vs.-goon affairs. They were all out of frustration or late hits or dirty hits that led to big scrums/mini brawls. Even when the fights weren't of great quality, those brawls and scrums show the passion that has been missing for a while and that really keeps you on the edge of your seat during games. Well, it was only one day though. I wont hold my breath for it to continue, but those were a batch of the first few games this year I probably would have enjoyed (NASH-PHX especially, NYR-BUF and MTL-OTT and a few others looked ok too)

[spiderarms]

While it was MUCH NEEDED ACTION for posters on the 10/14 schedule, I would caution against your enthusiasm. Remember what you are comparing these games to, NOTHING. Put in that context, they were better than the GARBAGE you have been watching! Just keep in mind that a few years back 12 fights in one night could be had by TWO GAMES, NOT AN ENTIRE SCHEDULE!

[Smashing Machine]

Originally Posted by Merlin401

Finally a good day yesterday... besides the 5 minute rule, I could be happy with an NHL like that. The fights weren't just random goon-vs.-goon affairs. They were all out of frustration or late hits or dirty hits that led to big scrums/mini brawls. Even when the fights weren't of great quality, those brawls and scrums show the passion that has been missing for a while and that really keeps you on the edge of your seat during games. Well, it was only one day though. I wont hold my breath for it to continue, but those were a batch of the first few games this year I probably would have enjoyed (NASH-PHX especially, NYR-BUF and MTL-OTT and a few others looked ok too)

It seems that many are looking for the Goon vs Goon bouts though ?

I miss them, as do most I assume.

You had to get excited thinking Shelley would take on Boogie.

But I agree..maybe all these "sparked" fights will actually be good in the longrun.

[Merlin401]

Originally Posted by RAMBO

It seems that many are looking for the Goon vs Goon bouts though ?

I miss them, as do most I assume.

You had to get excited thinking Shelley would take on Boogie.

But I agree..maybe all these "sparked" fights will actually be good in the longrun.

I have no problem with a heavyweight fighter fighting another heavyweight fighter. But I sympathize with the criticism of those that say they are "staged" and silly in a way. I mean, Oliwa vs. Nazarov for the 10th time for no reason other than thats what they do doesn't get me that excited. Heavyweight battles should primarily because of things getting heated in the game IMO.

The problem with the league is that Betteman has been very sneaky. On one hand, the league says that fighting has a place in the game as "heat-of-the-moment" fights. On the other hand, the instigator rule makes it so that staged fights dont hurt the team whereast heat of the moment fights are usually instigated and DO hurt the team. So in the end, all we've been getting is staged goon-vs-goon fights and then its very easy for the league to say "look, all we have are these meaningless fights. why even have them?" Very very sneaky to shift most fights AND fighters into a particularly useless type that the fans could accept eliminating. To me the instigator rule is 100% of the problem in this. You can't have a Wendel Clark type player anymore because he can't fight meaningless fights (kills ice time, injury potential) and he can't fight meaningful ones either because he'd get a 17 pim package. So the only fighters ended up being goons and those are not valuable in the public's mind. We need to get back to having more people like Iginla in the league and get rid of this instigator rule. I'd trade goons for players that CAN play and fight with true passion and no restrictions on fighting for the "right reasons"

[Blouin]

Originally Posted by RAMBO

As an Atlanta fan, I'm befuddled. We have more guys who will "fight" than most teams.
Not heavyweights.. but guys who will fight.

Andy Sutton last night finally snarled at someone, shoved them, and looked like he asked the Caps player to go. It was a non fighter, and the Caps player said "take it easy". I clearly read his lips.

Exelby has donned the visor, but a fight will find him.

Vishnevski is a bulldozer, his gits are gonna spark a brawl.

Mellanby though a thousand years old, doesn't take much crap from anyone.

Jim Slater's relentless play results in scrums, which could escalate into fights.

Jon Sim gives everything he's got every shift, he hits, he defends teammates.

Boulton will have a handful of fights when it's all said and done.

Coburn is on the IR.
Shane Hnidy has not played yet.
Greg De Vries took a puck to the face, he will not be fighting anytime soon, and had to don the visor. Trust me, the guys isn't a pussie, that sh*t had to have hurt.

Brad Larsen will have a couple of fights this year.

Holik is playing like a Captain. Hitting and leading the charge.

Also not defending the Kingdom here, but we had quite a few scraps in preseason with guys that will eventually be on the big club.
Valabik most notably.

Wasn't happy with letting Karl Stewart go, but we don't have much room.

JP Vigier was scratched last night so Boulton could get that minute of ice time. It's a tough lineup to crack.


Atlanta has yielded a tough team since day 1, this is our weakest, but most skilled team ever. The winning is nice, but i'm not gonna lie. I call it like it is.
I miss Francis Lessard, Darcy Hordichuk, Ronald Petrovicky, and even Kip Brennan.
Curt Frasers style of almost always putting out the crushers after a goal was scored by the other team, or many times..simply starting a game with the 4th line.
Hartley does not do that, though I'm happy he insists on having an Enforcer at least on the team.

There will be fights, just like I said - more of a mission = playoffs right now, rather than bravado. Boulton handles not playing well also. That was mentioned. He's a great team guy, and the guys do like it when he's in the lineup. And we have a tough radio group with Dan "Killer" Kamal and Jeff Odgers.

I'm disapointed, but I sat through that 19 win season, with Matt Johnson, Denny Lambert , Kelly Buchberger, Steve Staios, Rumun Ndur , Chris Tamer , Ed Ward , Shean Donovan , and Petr Buzek . Not the toughest team, but there was a fight almost every game it seemed.

Just look at the Heavyweights / Fighters throughout the years for the Atlanta Thrashers:

Matt Johnson - HW Enforcer
Denny Lambert - HW Enforcer
Chris Tamer - HW
Rumun Nudur - LHW / HW
Kelly Buchberger - LHW / HW
Jeff Odgers - HW Enforcer
Steve Staios - MW
Darcy Hordichuk - HW Enforcer
Ladislav Kohn - LHW (This guy could throw them for an Euro)
Shean Donovan - MW
Petr Buzek - LHW (Didn't go often but didn't lose either)
Pascal Rheaume - MW
Jeff Cowan - LHW (Horrible fighter but fearless)
Todd Reirden - LOL
Jiri Slegr - LHW / HW
Andy Sutton - HW
Francis Lessard - HW Enforcer
Dan Snyder - pest LW
Garnet Exelby - HW
Ben Simon - MW
Ronald Petrovicky - pest MW (Underrated MW Enforcer)
Bill Lindsay - MW
Jean-Luc-Grand-Pierre - HW
Ivan Majesky - LHW
Kip Brennan - HW Enforcer
Scott Mellanby - HW / old
Eric Boulton - HW Enforcer
Greg De Vries - HW
Shane Hnidy - HW
Karl Stewart - MW pest
Brad Larsen - LHW

SEE a pattern ?
Never a top guy, but always someone on the roster that will drop the gloves, and a team toughness mentality.

What little credibility you thought you had you just lost by listing Lambert as a Heavyweight, Lindsay as a middleweight. Can you tell me what fights these two ever won?
Kohn as a light heavyweight, De Vires as a HW?
C'mon homer, give it up. Thats why you need to start "how to score a fight" threads because you have no knowledge.

[itsJ.Millertime]

Originally Posted by RAMBO

I hate being negative..but people are calling this night "like the old days"...

...

I hope I was'nt coming off as saying that.
Believe me I know the difference from last night and your average sat. in the 80's. It's not even close.
This was more of a throw back to the 03-04 season. Great by the horrible standard of last year and this year but a FAR cry from what I saw "back in the day".

[Humpzilla]

Don't you wish this kind of stuff still happened in the NHL?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nZpfgwHRAkA

[Humpzilla]

Another great old-time hockey brawl.

Habs vs Bruins (Chris Nilan's hallway brawl/riot)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=77HH2nIEJMk

Can you believe the commentary in the 1st clip?!? The guy sounds like he's making a nature documentary

http://youtube.com/watch?v=q_8Mx97MKPE

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by Humpzilla

Don't you wish this kind of stuff still happened in the NHL?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nZpfgwHRAkA

But do you know why? Because it developed from INTENSITY, A RIVALRY, HITTING and REAL PASSION FOR WINNING. All of this is missing from todays game!!!

[ValJamesRules]

Anyone who has been raggin on the new NHL needs to look no further than this past weekends games. Check out the Video Clips. There are some rivalries heating up out West.

[davesakiller]

this is one days worth of games. i like it, but i am not gonna get too excited yet.

[spiderarms]

Saturday Night was a very good night of action but don't BLOW YOUR HORN until it happens on a night in and night out basis! This was ONE night, let's see if Bettman gives the GREENLIGHT-EVERYNIGHT! I HOPE HE DOES!

[suckerpunch]

Originally Posted by spiderarms

Saturday Night was a very good night of action but don't BLOW YOUR HORN until it happens on a night in and night out basis! This was ONE night, let's see if Bettman gives the GREENLIGHT-EVERYNIGHT! I HOPE HE DOES!

Spider....

I tend to agree with your posts, but your rant grows a little tiring. Sure this is one night out, but hatred breeds hatred. A fight is viral, it spreads animosity that can impact the entire season.

I am fortunate to live in a Hockey-rich environment where rivalries have always made the game more intense and engaging. I also grew up on old-school hockey (in my 40's) and had the pleasure of seeing many games live in the late 70's and early 80's.

Sure the product has evolved and perhaps less intense in general...it's become a bit diluted through the introduction of European standards and US team expansion... but I am still a big hockey fan and am drawn to the game for it's combination of skill, speed and physical intensity. Take any one of those components out of the sport and it's incomplete. There is no other sport that comes close to hockey for it's combination of grace and brutality.

I agree, it's been frustrating to experience this recent "evolution" in hockey... but I haven't given up on the game yet, and I don't think fighting will ever disappear from the sport. Mind you, I haven't purchased a cable package in years, but continue to watch the game on HNIC and occassionally live. I also used to buy season's tickets and merchandise, but don't anymore.

What I want to know if you are an advocate of an NHL boycott and can't tolerate the game anymore, then why are you here and why are you still watching the game ???

[Smashing Machine]

Originally Posted by Blouin

What little credibility you thought you had you just lost by listing Lambert as a Heavyweight, Lindsay as a middleweight. Can you tell me what fights these two ever won?
Kohn as a light heavyweight, De Vires as a HW?
C'mon homer, give it up. Thats why you need to start "how to score a fight" threads because you have no knowledge.

there is no point in trying to bless you with any knowledge you'll just misuderstand it.

Winning does not mean anything, in regards to Lambert being a HEAVYWEIGHT you ijit.

Did I say he was a great fighter ?

No.

I did not.

Learn to comprehend what you read.

Lambert has taken on every heavyweight put in front of him, that my fickle, little retarded cold sore makes him a heavyweight.
Or again..find where I said he was "great".
I merely pointed out that he IS in fact a heavyweight, and as expected you couldn't get the gist of what I was saying.
Same for Lindsay - if you had a clue of what you trying to grasp onto to wage a response at my thread, you'd know..again..has nothing to being a sorry fighter - as I agree Lindsay blew...but he was a middleweight - who would fight. That's the gist moron, not his winning percentage.

Kohn took on Luke Richardson, beat him..I guess we could call him a MW though, i'll grant you that, even if you can't figure out how to look up his fight card, and have seen zero of his fights.

De Vries used to fight often, he's obviously a good defenceman..I guess taking on guys like Cummins, Brashear , countless other I am not gonna name for you.. makes him "not a heavyweight" in your view.

Find something better to whine about my posts, you are grasping for stuff, and getting shot down rather easily.

[OBA]

I think it is warranted, suckerpunch. You being on older poster as well, should know that the game today can't come close to what is was.

I can't speak for spiderarms, but he tells us alot of the truth in a very nice and well thought out response. I see nothing wrong with someone expressing their thoughts of this 'New' product. I agree with him in most cases. There is no reason to call him out. He provides good insight, and his posts are nice to read, Whether you agree or disagree. It's a forum here, that's what it's for.

My 0.02 cents.